I am now a Professional

I am finally (after 9 very, very, very long months) a Professional Librarian. (Insert special sound of amazement here!) The funny part is, I do not actually work in a library. Instead I work for the the Alabama Public Library Service as a Consultant for Alabama Public Libraries. Many of my days will now be filled with Trustee, Friends and Foundation Information for the libraries. Most recently, this meant I contacted several libraries regarding their 501(c)3 classification...who knew I would be friends with the IRS? Definitely not me! I think one of the parts of the job I like the most is the fact it is more administrative in scope and travel is involved/required. In fact, next month I am off to Denver for a conference that will also help me out in learning about my job and how I can meet the needs of my libraries. 

I changed my twitter account to APLS_Denise so it is a little more Professional sounding, not that I hated blubrrymffin, but that makes me seem 5. I need to be a little more professional in my life and not so completely scattered (or crazy or fun). Okay, that may be a little extreme. Lets try for me to be a little more professional in my Work life (I can get to the Personal side later).

After accepting my job with APLS, I had to find an apartment, quit my current job, set up all the utilities and well, just move. And I had about 2 weeks to do everything...so no time issue, right? I must say though, I really do love my new apartment. It is big and pretty and just for me and Spiderman. Spidey has been super nervous about the moving idea (okay he has moved A LOT with me so I sort of do not understand him) but I think he is slowly warming up to the idea of our new place. Eventually though, I expect him to chill out a bit and just enjoy himself. Major plus for the apartment you might ask? My own washer and dryer in the apartment itself. No laundromat for me, woot!

So that is it for my scattered post. I have many things happening and I am hoping after I finish unpacking I can post some pictures. Everyone is a fan of pictures...including me!

I got new glasses!

Last Saturday I finally buckled down and went to the eye doctor.  I despise, hate, dislike, loathe going to the eye doctor.  It has been over three years since my last visit and if I could have helped it, I might have even waited a bit longer.  I just have an issue with people being near my eye.  Heck, I don't like being near my eyes and they are attached to my face.  My eyes tear up the entire time I am there and I pretty much just freak out from start to finish.  So yeah, going to the eye doctor last Saturday was a pretty big deal for me.

The most enlightening part of my eye doctor visit was when I learned one of my eyes reversed itself and went from being far-sighted to being near-sighted.  Basically I close one I and up close is fine and the out far is blurry but when I close the other eye the opposite happens.  That's normal, right?

So I go through my torture and then I get to pick out my new glasses.  I visited America's Best so you get a free eye exam and then pay a set price for two pairs of glasses.  Before my visit I thought that I might get one pair of sunglasses but I would wait to check out the price.  So I start looking, and looking, and looking and then I noticed all the pairs I like are ridiculously priced.  So much for staying in budget.  Finally I settle on two pair, one for everyday wearing and one to make into  sunglasses.  I go see the order lady and I found out that what I wanted still was more than I thought.  After everything was said and done, I paid double what I thought I would pay.  That was a bit of a shock, in the not so good way.

That being said, I got my new glasses today.  Woot!  I really like them, especially my everyday pair.  The sunglasses are big and look like grandma glasses but I am fine with that.  I need sun protection for driving, I could care less how great they look.  I think my foray into eyeglasses shopping was okay. After the exam I ended up pleased and I think I picked out a nice pair.  Plus, this scratched another item off my list.  Maybe this deserves a woohoo.

I went painting!

When I lived in Tuscaloosa I went painting once with two friends to one of those "paint a canvas and it will look pretty, even if you are artistically UN-talented" places. I made a post about it earlier in this blog (it is a very awesome snowman). Last night I went painting again, but this time I went with my mom. The setup was a bit different but I still had an fun time. This time I painted a margarita (a hot pink one)! Alcohol my dear friend, oh how I love you. I definitely want to go back and it is not that expensive at all. At least this is personalized, unlike something you might buy in a store. Below is a picture of my painting, I hope you like it (or pretend to like it). Please just remember, I am as artistically talented as a bottle of water.

My baking blog

I LOVE baking.  Be it cakes or cupcakes or bread or pretty much any yummy thing.  So I created a blog for my baking.  I just posted my first post to that blog here.  I hope to put all my great baking treats there.  Go visit if you want to be hungry.  First up, a 14-Layer Cake I made for my dad's birthday.  It was super yummy.

NEW bread

So I baked a new type of bread this weekend. It was super yummy and I could eat it all day long if I wanted to. The bread is a cheese based bread and I used two cups of grated/shredded Colby Jack cheese in the bread. Before I baked the bread it smelled like Macaroni 'n Cheese. Yes, I am serious!  Mac 'n Cheese goodness...omg, I still can remember that smell.  When the bread was done baking it no longer smelled the same but it did taste pretty yummy. It is essentially a white, yeast bread with a hint of creamy, cheesy joy. No overwhelming taste of cheese but still nice and smooth. I took a picture so you can see how yummy the bread is. The picture is at the bottom of this post. The recipe made two loaves and both are pretty much done by now. I think next time I might try a sharper cheese (like Cheddar) with the recipe to see how the bread tastes.

I am one bread closer to my goal of baking 30 new breads. Woohoooo! This goal should be easy to complete. Plus, it will taste good the whole way through. I hope everyone else enjoys the bread as much as I do.

 

Meet Kelly (a new 101 in 1001 person)

So I completed a goal without trying. That's right, pretty much no effort was expended by yours truly but ALOT of effort was expended by Kelly. She created a 101 in 1001 list (and blog). I really like her list and you can follow her here! So go visit, say hi and stick around for all her fun hi-jinxes! Woohoo!!!!!!

BTW: This means number 93 is now DONE!  Only 100 more to go...no problem, eh?

Spidey's Birthday

So today is Spiderman's birthday. Mom and I were trying to figure out how old he is last night and I think we narrowed it down to 5. Which in cat years is really about 36 years old. Cats age differently than humans and dogs, but from what I could find out, he is approximately 36. Did you know the oldest cat on record reached 34 human years which is approximately 153 in cat years! Crazy stuff I tell you, just crazy!

Spidey is a very special cat. I first met him at a horrible, horrible, horrible (can I add about 20 more horrible's to this statement?) pet shelter in Pottsville, PA. Side note, Pottsville is where they make Yuengling Beer! I was looking at another cat named Ken when Spidey proceeded to leap on me from above...with all of his claws out. He ended up as my new cat and he has been pushing me around ever since. I am not a quite person, but he is definately NOT a quite cat.

Spidey has some very interesting idiosyncracies, such as his infatuation with water, his need to play with balls and then also feed and water said balls and his love to control as many humans as possible with very little effort. Overall though, I cannot say there is another cat I would enjoy as much as him.  Happy Birthday Spidey!

My New (and Improved) 101 in 1001 List

I have from today, August 2, 2010, until April 29, 2013 to complete my goals.

I originally started a list last October, but so much has changed that I feel I need a new list so I can actually achieve my goals. In October I was still is Library school, so full of hope and so full of spirit that I KNEW what was going to happen and I was happy. Not to say I am not happy now, but I am definitely NOT where I thought I would be. I just think that God has a different plan for me that is not my plan. But that means it is a better plan and I just need to wait. I will try my best, work hard, have fun and let life take me on the path I need to travel. So now, without further suspense….my new 101 in 1001 list is here!



Food Related

1. Try 10 new drinks

2. Go to a wine tasting

3. Grow my own tomatoes and eat them

4. Eat at a restaurant all by myself and not feel self-conscious

5. Make my own pickles

6. Make Filling once a year

7. Learn to make Mom’s Potato Salad

8. Drink 8 glasses of water a day for 1 month

9. Eat at 5 new restaurants

10. Take my multivitamin everyday for 6 months

11. Bake 30 new types of bread
Travel Related

12. Go to a Zoo

13. Watch 5 sunsets in 5 different places

14. See the big ball of twine in Kansas

15. Visit and blog about 2 new museum visits

16. See the Grand Canyon

17. See a “ruin” of something

18. Visit the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri

19. Fly somewhere in 1st or Business Class

20. Go Zorb-ing

21. Go Scuba diving or Snorkeling

22. Visit my Pop

23. Go to the Supernatural Convention

24. Use my passport

25. Find 10 Geocache hiding spots

26. Visit at least half of the states

27. Go on a trip with just mom

28. Go on a trip with just dad

29. Ride a Seadoo

Be a Good Person

30. Sponsor a child

31. Read the Bible everyday

32. Donate $101 to charity

33. Leave 25 happy/inspiring post-it notes for random strangers

34. Send a soldier a care project

35. Use only reusable shopping bags…even at clothing stores

36. Volunteer for at least 30 hours

37. Participate in 5 charity walk/run events

Be an Adult

38. Get a Professional Librarian job

39. Have an article I write published in a professional journal

40. Stay off the internet 1 day for each month

41. Keep up this blog!

42. Put at least $1 a day in savings and do not touch it until the 1001 days are done

43. Back-up my Mac monthly

44. Make a will

45. Make a living-will

46. Get new glasses

47. Read the Sunday newspaper in its entirety

48. Visit the non-fun doctor

49. Change the oil in my car regularly

50. Vote

51. Become a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association

52. Become a life member of the Alabama Alumni Association

53. Go to the dentist

54. Do not buy a new planner

55. Stop biting my nails

Books/Reading Related

56. Read/Listen to 250 new-to-me books

57. Make my own Zine

58. Color an entire coloring book

59. Do not buy any “new” books for 1 month- only borrow from the library or buy “used” books

60. Read a suggested to me book (Eat, Pray, Love)

61. Use the Dictionary.com “Word of the Day” in a sentence everyday for 1 month

62. Join a book club

63. Write my name in the sand and take a picture of it

64. Reread all of the James Bond series

Television/Movie/Internet Related

65. Complete an ITunes University class

66. Watch 26 movies in 3 months with titles that follow the alphabet

67. Buy a portable hard drive for my Mac

68. Attend a midnight premiere of a movie

69. Post something on Youtube

70. Watch season 1 of Dr. Who

71. Watch most Alabama Football games either in-person or on television

Be Fit!

72. Use my Wii Fit 2x a week

73. Lose weight so I am comfortable with myself

74. Exercise at least 3x a week

75. Play mini putt-putt

Craft Time

76. Photograph 1 view in all 4 series and frame the images

77. Do a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle

78. Support someone on Etsy at least 2x a year

79. Finish a cross stitch that is bigger than the ornament/bookmark size

80. Make 5 jewelry pieces

81. Come up with my own font style and then use it

82. Use my postcards to make a project
What Else You Got?

83. See Adam Lambert in concert

84. Make a wish on October 10, 2010 at 10:10am

85. Watch all of Supernatural

86. Take a walk when it’s raining and go nowhere important

87. Get a facial

88. Send 101 postcards through postcrossing.com

89. Mail a secret into postcecret.com

90. Make a list of 101 things that make me happy and share it with those I love

91. Put all my change in a jar for 6 months

92. Throw a party

93. Influence someone else to make a 101 list

94. Get 2 new tattoos

95. Get a massage

96. Sing karaoke

97. Take a class

98. Get a new corn plant and take care of it

99. Remember a dream and write it down

100. Keep a Quote journal

101. Make a new 101 in 1001 list

I took a personality test today!

So I took a personality test today, it was something to do today.  The results are somewhat right because I am a perfectinist and somewhat wrong.  I guess that is pretty par for the course in regards to these online tests.  

ESTJ - "Administrator". Much in touch with the external environment. Very responsible. Pillar of strength. 8.7% of total population.

Enneagram Test Results Type 1 Perfectionism |||||||||||||||||||| 86% Type 2 Helpfulness |||||||||||||| 53% Type 3 Image Awareness |||||||||||||| 56% Type 4 Sensitivity |||||| 23% Type 5 Detachment |||||| 26% Type 6 Anxiety |||||||||||||| 60% Type 7 Adventurousness |||||||||| 40% Type 8 Aggressiveness |||||||||||||||| 66% Type 9 Calmness |||||||||| 36% Your main type is 1 Your variant is social

type	score	type behavior motivation
1	26	I must be perfect and good to be happy.
8	20	I must be strong and in control to be happy.
6	18	I must be secure and safe to be happy.
3	17	I must be impressive and attractive to be happy.

Another five bite the dust!

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

I took a break from school, which is ending in 23 days!, and went to visit family.  It is nice to leave the whole hectic world of school behind and just be with those that love me.  (I mainly go with the reasoning of "because they have too" on that last statement).  Plus guess what is Friday...SHOPPING!

I have made stupendous progress on my list in the last few weeks.  WooHoo!!!!!! 

First off is something I had very little actual hope of accomplishing is that I actually turned in an assignment over a week before it is due (actually about 3 weeks before but who is counting).  This goal was #4 on my list.  I am a procrastinator of the worst kind so I tend to not get things done until they are due.  I do get it done, but not too early. 

The most important thing I did was learn how to make Filling.  This is #36 on my list and my mom taught me today (well yesterday but I am still awake so it is the same day to me).  Filling is a Thanksgiving and Christmas staple that my mom makes, that my Pop made (her dad) and before that my great grandmother made.  The recipe is not written down but it is YUMMY!  Absolutely yummy.  Thanks mom for helping my life get to be a little more awesome.

I continued #60 this past weekend because I did not get online at all.  For a Facebook and livejournal addict like, that is HARD! I kept busy with friends, an Alabama football game (Roll Tide!), a party, a library visit and a movie (New Moon...kill me please).  It was a great weekend and I had fun but I am even happier to have avoided the Internet for a few days.

I have continued #75 by sending two more postcards.  This puts me at a total of 10 sent postcards.  I have also received 10 postcards and as soon as I can remember (always a key point) I will put my pc pictures up online.

I realized when I was looking at my list that the snowman painting I raved about last time actually fulfills a goal!  Who knew?  I just went because it seemed fun, but now I see that it means I completed #80.  That is an extra woohoo!

I think that is it for now.  I know, that is 5!!!! goals I am making major progress with so that is happy.  Soon I can update on #1 and #2 but I am waiting just a bit.  So close on those.  In 23 days things should be GREAT!

Have a great turkey day all! ~blubrrymffin

New Post for a New Week

So today is Monday, November 16th. 

Holy Heck, It's November 16th!!!!!!


In less than a month I will graduate with my Master's and hopefully in less than a month I will be starting (or have a start date picked) my new job, in less than a month I could be moved (or moving) to Virginia, in less than a month...my life will be very different.  I am happy, yet sad, yet excited, yet nervous.  I have made great friends here and will miss them but also I am ready to start my new adventure.  I find it frustrating that soooo many people are like "We need to do something before you go..." but I am about out of time for all the somethings.  I really want to do everything but I cannot.  Ack!

I went roller skating and I painted a picture of a snowman with friends this past weekend.    To the left is my painting...I must say it is fitting because it snows so much here....ummm, yeah, not!  But I like the snowman guy.  I think I will call him Dana.  Yep, please meet Dana the snowman.  I hope you enjoy him!

(p.s....Dana does not like orange or carrots.  Just thought you would like to know)


Ok, off for some more fun on my lonnnnngggg day of fun.  When do I get to sleep again?

Bryant Museum

This past Friday I visited a local museum for the first time.  Called the Paul W. Bryant Museum (in honor of the great Bear himself) the museum is filled with pretty, shiny and interactive objects.  The football rings are awesome and the trophies are amazing but the re-creation of Bryant's office is the best part.  A pencil cup on the deck with pencils and a Houndstooth hat make it all seem real.  I was really happy to share the experience with Dad and I wish we had brought a camera, but I still enjoyed myself.  Click below for a link to the museum.

http://bryantmuseum.ua.edu/

Blogging about the museum is my first of five museum visits I must make to complete my list.  I am moving along with my list but some items I am just waiting on until I graduate.  Speaking of graduation, it will be here in only 32 days!!!!!  woo hoo!

Just a post

It is time to update...yay!  Last week was ultra stressing but hopefully this week works a bit better.  I did try a new beer (Newcastle) so at least that part of my list is continuing towards the goal.  I continue to work on the job front (because I want something for when I am done school darnit!) and nothing big to report.  Right now I am trying to work on my school work and stay up-to-date with all (major swirling hand motion) of that mess.  I am in two different groups for two different classes and I like the group aspect of both but one is functioning much better than the other one.

I found it amusing yesterday when 1 group member in my 560 class group said, "For our final project, can we get it completed asap.  I am leaving on the 11th so I would like to be done before then."  I cried out a loud response of "YES!!!!" because this is my last assignment due.  Get done early...I think so.  According to my countdown clock graduation is t-52 days away.  So close, so far, so happy, so scary and so ready.  Is it possible to have senioritis for grad school?  Maybe it is grad-itis.  I just feel apathetic in regards to my classes.  I spent half an hour last Thursday discussing the different ways to bludgeon myself with another student so we could leave class early.  Of course, it was kind of amusing when we made a list of pointy objects....eh, never mind.  Sort of sadistic actually :-p .

I had a great weekend with mom and dad and this coming Saturday is the Tennessee game.  I hope we get an offense again by Saturday.  Just a few days and then its the weekend, woot!  I think I need sleep now...g'night!

P.S.- Sent out a new postcrossing postcard today.  This makes 8 total so far.  I received a postcard today as well from Finland.  I really need to make a book or something with all my awesome postcards.

New addition for my list!

I have a new addition for my list (number 86 to be exact).  I want to go to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri.  They have a HUGE shuttlecock outside and I think I need my picture with it.  Hmmmmm....sounds like a plan!

Other additions are:

87.  write a list of 101 things that make me happy and share with those I love

88.  change the oil in my car on a regular basis

89.  make my own painting and hang it up

90.  see Alabama play Penn State

91.  vote whenever I can

92.  fly somewhere in first class

93.  go scuba-diving or snorkeling

94.  read a book someone suggested to me

95.  learn to make Filling!

96.  become a life member of the Penn State Alumni Association (so they stop bothering me!)

97.  write a letter to myself before day 30 and read it on day 1001

98-100.  coming on 10/3/10

101. start a new 101 list on day 1001

Another one bites the dust!

YAY!  I can mark some more items off my list!  Say goodbye little list, I will kill you.  Mwahahahaha....

1. Say goodbye #9 because I went to San Diego (actually I do not leave until tomorrow)


2. I can mark off one part of #29 because I tried coleslaw finally and as expected...that is a big nope!  Never again, I am sure the coleslaw was good but ewwwwww...not me.


3. I also beat #35 because there was a random sax player on the street and I gave him $2.  Not alot I know, but I still gave the guy something.  I felt better for actually helping someone-let's hope I did.


4. I also am continuing my "try new drinks" goal.  Yesterday, even though I did not update, I had another two new beers.  First of all I tried Bohemia and Hofbrau Dunkel.  The former is a mexican beer and the latter is a dark german beer.  Of the beers that I tried this past weekend, I think I liked Hofbrau the very most.  It had a nice spicy aftertaste.  Yummmmmm

                                                                                                                                                             

I think that I am definitely doing well with my goals.  YAY!!!!!  Much love and wish me luck on my trip back to Alabama (oh yeah, I so went to Trader Joe's Today-because I could)

Yard House Fun

Tonight I went to the Yard House.  It has a lot of beers on draft and was pretty sweet.  I tried two new beers while I was there: Gordon Biersch Blonde Bock and the local House Honey Blonde.  I definitely liked the first beer better but I am glad I tried both.  After supper with at the Yard House, we stopped and bought Modelo.  It is a Mexican beer and was not as good as the first two.  I had a great night though and did enjoy my new drinks...yummmm.

I tried a new beer!

So I tried a new Beer last night.  This is great for my list and I actually enjoyed.  Hoegaarden is a Belgian Wheat Beer and it is spiced with Coriander and Orange Peel.  I had my beer with a lemon slice...yummy!  I think my brother would like the beer so I will recommend it to him.

Ack!

Look at the pretty pictures of Hermione and Spiderman.  Well, let me tell you this...


I hate allergies and right now I am not a fan of cats.  Because I have yet another sinus infection and I keep losing my voice.  How can I talk when I have no voice?  O those cats are gonna be de-furred real soon.

More for my list

So I need to finish my list and I only need about 26...only 26!  That is a lot!  I am almost done with another book so I can say (2/250) books read towards my read new books goal.  I think I may make a statement regarding my list now.  In one year's time I will look my list and re-evaluate my goals.  I do not believe this is a cop-out of anything, but I will be in a different place at that point and certain goals may need to be redone.  Sound like a plan?  I thought so.  :-)

75.  Try 10 new drinks

76.  Donate clothes I do not wear quarterly

77.  Get new glasses (my prescription is 2 1/2 yrs old!)

78.  Complete an iTunes University class

79.  Check my voice mail weekly

80.  Read the Sunday paper, not just the Sunday ads

81.  Give up Soda for Lent and not cheat

82.  Do not buy another planner for a year (I have a planner fetish)

83.  See a "ruin" of something

84.  Visit the female doctor for that thing I hate

85.  Restart my 401K

86.  more coming....

Job apps galore

I worked on the "get a job" goal this morning.  I applied for about 15 jobs and now I am so done for the day.  There are a few I need to apply by mail for (seriously, who does that?) but most are in for the moment.  I think I am a little crazy in my trying to apply right now.  I really want to have a job to go into once I graduate.  That is not too nuts right?  Oh well, I will keep going.  Tonight at work I have to print the last few cv's off on nice paper so I can mail them (did I mention, who does that?).  I even applied for two CIA jobs tonight.  I can start singing the "Secret Agent Man" song, except more like, "Secret Agent Librarian" :-)